The Heart of the Cup Bearer

"The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem." Nehemiah 1:1,2 KJV

"...For I was the king's cupbearer." Nehemiah 1:11 KJV Full chapter, here.

As you read the entire chapter, take note of the parallel between his earthly (flesh) actions and what is required (spiritually) to be a faithful servant/minister of the Lord.  

Humble, Faithful, Trustworthy, Unselfish, Willing to go the extra mile, Wise, Worked within the protocol/boundaries/rules of the kingdom.... these are a few of the character traits of Nehemiah. Traits that we will exhibit, IF we strive to have them in our spirit.

The last verse of chap 1 sets the tone for the entire reading. He was the cup bearer..... SERVANT. Nehemiah had the training/skill set needed to serve the king. More importantly, he had the HEART of a servant. When driven by the heart to serve (in general) one will learn the skills needed to do whatever could be required by the recipient. In serving the earthly king,, the standards were set high and required full attention of the servant. Nehemiah applied this same observance to the work of the temple.

My greatest take away from today's passage is this: we cannot serve God any better than we serve our fellow man. For. Christ came not to be ministered into, but to be a minister. And, as we have done to to least (mankind) we have done into Him.

Additional scripture references:

Mark 10:43-45, "....even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Matthew 20:26,27, "...whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:"

Luke 12:48, "..... to whom much is give, much is required"  

Matthew 25:31-46  "....Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Many times we enter into the presence of the King with little worship and many petitions. There following are three things that we can glean from the Magi who visited Jesus.

1. When they found Him, they were HUMBLE. They bowed in worship. They put their own status aside to honor His.

2. They were TRANSPARENT. They opened their treasure boxes/chests. That is, they revealed what they held in high regard.

3. They were GENEROUS. They gave gifts. They relinquished things that they had treasured up for themselves.

Isaiah 9: 6 - 7

Matthew 2:1 - 11 TEXT: vs 11 "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

God will lead those who desire to be led. God provided the star & the message. They that hunger & thirst shall be filled. Mt 2: 12 God will protect those who have revealed their vulnerabilities.

What adult would humble himself to a child? One that has been touched by God to recognize the power and potential in that child. One that believes there is a connection between their future and that child.

Humans are designed with a void that can only be filled by Jesus Christ. Yet, people will look everywhere else to all sorts of things, trying to find something to appease that longing in their hearts.

People want to come to church and have a feel good time, but don't want anyone to see their deepest hurt/pain. They play the game to conceal their true identity. They don't even want to open their wallets.

The Magi left Arabia with a load of presents. They came prepared to worship. They believed the prophecy. They followed the star. When they opened their treasure boxes, the contents were obvious. But the treasures were not for show. They were brought to be given as gifts to the Christ child.

We must come humbly. Not with our own agenda..... We must come prepared to open our treasure boxes. Treasures, the things that we hold close to us. Children, spouse, wealth, sickness, habit, hang up, grudge, & etc. We must release our treasures to fully receive "THE TREASURE".

They came prepared to GIVE/WORSHIP because they BELIEVED. Do you believe? Do you believe enough to make preparations to worship? Enough to humbly reveal your dependency on Him? Enough to give Him your all?

Like an Olive Tree

History tells us that all of the trees in and around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 AD. Yet there are olive trees there today. They could even be off-shoots of the trees that were growing in the days that Jesus walked the Earth. It has been said that olive trees can regenerate from their roots. This means they can be cut completely down and sometime later sprout, flourish, and bear fruit again.

"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant. But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up, so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep." Job 14:7-12 ESV

As long as there is breath in a man, there is hope. Hope for salvation. Hope for regeneration. Hope for an eternal life with Jesus Christ. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. He searches the depths of man’s soul. He is the one who pricks the conscience of man. He is the One who draws the man to the Father. He is the one understands the non-verbal communications of man.
God created man in His image. He put within man a place that can only be filled with Him. Many search the world over for something to satisfy. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and plastic surgery are a few things that have been sought to stop the gnawing of emptiness. Oftentimes a person will have to hit rock bottom before they realize that Jesus is the answer to their woes. But some only need to witness a life that is vibrant with the love of Jesus.

Our mandate is to go and tell. To that I add; and live well. So what if you have been battered and cut down? Let the Holy Spirit water you soul today and you will begin to sprout again. As long as you have breath, there is hope.

I originally posted this on another site . Copyright 2008

Memory Enhancements

A Mayo Clinic report states: "Ginkgo biloba has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Today, it is one of the top selling herbs in the United States. Although not definitive, there is promising early evidence favoring the use of ginkgo for memory enhancement in healthy subjects, altitude (mountain) sickness, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and reduction of chemotherapy-induced end-organ vascular damage."

While Ginkgo biloba may be known as one of the oldest memory enhancers, it can not be compared to the One that was present when the worlds were framed.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

The Holy Spirit was sent not only to remind the disciples of the teachings of Christ, but to empower them to witness to those both near and far. Peter experienced and demonstrated this power on the Day of Pentecost when he justified the behavior of the 120 who had been filled with the Holy Ghost.

This same promise has been extended to us today. Acts 2:39 states it this way; "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call."

I had a great ending for this post, but...... I can't seem to remember how it goes. Guess I should grab some Ginko on the way to my prayer closet. (smile)

Gone Fishing

Bright and early this morning I was awakened by the creaking of my bedroom door. Peeping in ever so quietly, was my Golden Boy. He wanted to know when I was going to get up and when we were going fishing. Oh how I wish I had the energy of an eight year old boy. Long story short, we got up and went fishing. Sad to say, we didn't catch anything. Maybe next time we should do our casting from the other side of the pond.

3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. John 21:3-6

Hungry and exhausted the disciples could have easily blown off the advice of the man on the shore. They had no idea that the man was the One that controlled the sea and all that it contained. It was only after he revealed his identity to Peter, that they understood why they hauled in more fish than their boats could hold.

Oftentimes our circumstances are less than ideal. Sometimes there is little or nothing to show for our labors. The feeling of failure fosters the idea of throwing in the towel or in Peter's case, the net.

But rest assured, Jesus will show up in our times of difficulty. It is up to us to be looking for him. We may not recognize his hand at work, but his voice will reveal his identity to us. So, we must ever be listening for his guidance and be willing to follow his directions.

Like an Olive Tree

History tells us that all of the trees in and around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 AD. Yet there are olive trees there today. They could even be off-shoots of the trees that were growing in the days that Jesus walked the Earth. It has been said that olive trees can regenerate from their roots. This means they can be cut completely down and sometime later sprout, flourish, and bear fruit again.

"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant. But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up, so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep." Job 14:7-12 ESV

As long as there is breath in a man, there is hope. Hope for salvation. Hope for regeneration. Hope for an eternal life with Jesus Christ. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. He searches the depths of man’s soul. He is the one who pricks the conscience of man. He is the one who draws man to the Father. He is the one understands the non-verbal communications of man.

God created man in His image. He put within man a place that can only be filled with Him. Many search the world over for something to satisfy. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and plastic surgery are a few things that have been sought to stop the gnawing of emptiness. Oftentimes a person will have to hit rock bottom before they realize that Jesus is the answer to their woes. But some only need to witness a life that is vibrant with the love of Jesus.

Our mandate is to go and tell. To that I add; and live well. So what if you have been battered and cut down? Let the Holy Spirit water you soul today and you will begin to sprout again. As long as you have breath, there is hope.

Love Is

1 Corinthians 13 The Amplified Version

1IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2And if I have prophetic powers ([b]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
3Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or [c] in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing.

4Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ([d]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

9For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).
10But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

12For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as [e]in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand [f]fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been [g]fully and clearly known and understood [[h]by God].

13And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.

When Will I See You?

One evening last week, CWGIII called me. He said, "when am I going to see you?" My heart just melted. I was disappointed that I was at work and couldn't go at that very moment. I assured him that his uncle and I would be up for a visit as soon as possible.

Sunday after church we made the 60 mile trek to Paris. We even did the drive through thing for lunch. I knew my golden boy would waiting. Notice I didn't say patiently waiting. He always greets me with a list of stuff to do while I am there. I cherish the time we have together.

The first thing we did; he rode the skateboard and I watched. He likes sports but he needs to work on his balance skills. Instead of skating standing up, he rode the board sitting down. I tried to help him ride it the right way, but that was too restrictive for him. Soon we were both sweaty and winded so we went inside to cool off.

Then he showed me an effortless and painless way to skate. He had a new game for his Xbox. We designed our own skating park. We gave the skater and his board a new look. Then his hands began a frenzy of motion. His hands seem to be more coordinated than his legs. I patted his back and played with his hair all the while he worked the controls. That's how we played.

You see, it wasn't what we did that was important. It was that we did it together. I know he would love to wrestle the way we used to when he was smaller. He would be overjoyed if I lived close by and could play everyday. I would be too. But things change as we age. Quality becomes more important than quality. He may not know that now, but he will in time.

Sometimes I hear God saying, "when am I going to see you?" He knows all and sees all, but His desire is to fellowship with me. He has things He wants to tell me. He wants to hear my prayers. My time with Him is sometimes limited by circumstances. Yet I know that I find time for those who are important to me. If I only have a few minutes, they need to be quality minutes. He does not require a certain quantity of time, just my whole life. I must give Him quality time.

When will I see Him? When He comes for His bride. I want to be ready. How about you?

Originally posted at Beneath The Ivy Wreath.

Cargo Transport

I borrowed this post from the Pilgrim. Stop by his place for more good reading. Enjoy.

Heavy load? This cargo was no problem for the transport. It gave us all a good chuckle when we saw the toy dump truck chained to the transport.

My mind went to the scripture written by the psalmist. "Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you." - Psalm 55:22 (KJV)

Often our trials and cares seem overwhelming and we wonder if we will break beneath the load. Why not heed the Lord's invitation to give Him our burdens...our load.
Our cares and concerns, though burdensome for us, will not break Him. They are like a toy truck chained to a mighty transport. Give them to Him today!
Posted by David Warren Fisher at Pilgrim Scribblings

No Trespassing

Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:27

place: any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space 1a) an inhabited place, as a city, village, district 1b) a place (passage) in a book 2) metaph. 2a) the condition or station held by one in any company or assembly 2b) opportunity, power, occasion for acting


Now it is not anything new to me that a place can be a passage in a book. And the old saying that "I may be the only Bible some will ever read", is not new either. But the idea of my life providing a passage for the devil to read is something I haven't entertained before.

With that in mind, I want my life to be a passage of godliness and truth. Then he will not try to read me "all in one sitting". His attacks will be intermittent like one starting to read the same book over and over again. I don't want anything carnal to become a bookmark for him to use.


As long as my pages are bound by the Holy Spirit I can not be ripped asunder. While I am kept in the cover of the blood of Jesus, nothing can by any means harm me. When I fill the margins with prayers I leave no room for the devil's input. My life can not be stolen, for I am in God's personal library.

Join me Wednesday @ Beneath the Ivy Wreath for more insights on this verse.